paxihayes's reviews
78 reviews

Call Me by Your Name by André Aciman

challenging emotional reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

A little too dramatic and flowery for me, but an amazing story nonetheless. Definitely worth the read even if it won’t make a favorites list this year! 

The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides

challenging dark fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

The ending ruined the entire book for me, I enjoyed the story until the last 15%. 

A Study in Drowning by Ava Reid

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

This was a surprising hard-hitter for me.  Emotionally poignant and creative world building.  

The Raven King by Maggie Stiefvater

adventurous dark emotional mysterious reflective tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

They got the HEA that makes sense for them, and I’m really glad. What a great series, I can’t believe it took me this long to read it. 

Blue Lily, Lily Blue by Maggie Stiefvater

adventurous emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

This one felt different, less tangible. It worked with the story, but it wasn’t my favorite feel personally. 

The Grace Year by Kim Liggett

adventurous dark emotional inspiring reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

This is one of those books that is meant to change you and it does. 

The only reason it’s not a 5-star read is because there were a few points where the overall metaphor got lost. 

The Dream Thieves by Maggie Stiefvater

adventurous emotional reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

The world deepened and the characters became more nuanced. I really like the dream thieves idea, unique and multifaceted.

Daughter of the Pirate King by Tricia Levenseller

adventurous funny medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

This would have worked a lot better as fanfiction. DNFing series.

Juniper & Thorn by Ava Reid

adventurous dark emotional reflective tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No

3.75

I didn’t enjoy this one as much as I thought I would. Interesting concept but execution fell flat for me. At times that characters seemed overly petty or childish. The world building was lackluster.

Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas

adventurous emotional funny informative reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I adored this book! Informative for multiple communities in a digestible way and deeply relatable. I was rooting for these characters from the beginning. Can’t wait for another story from this author!

Thank you Macmillan for including the queer and Latinx communities in all steps of this project!